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Fort Town Council Passes 2019-20 Budget

 

By:  David Deschesne

Fort Fairfield Journal, July 3, 2019

 

   The Fort Fairfield town council approved the town's Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget at their June 19 council meeting.  Keeping with historical tradition, nobody from the public showed up at either of the two Public Hearings on the town's budget.  The budget was first presented at a public hearing on April 25 and showed a projected excess of $95,622.  The budget presented at the May 9 public hearing had a projected excess of the same amount.  That changed, however, after the school budget vote was passed on May 23.  Price increases to the school costs whittled the town's budget excess down to a projected excess of $20,252. 

   As of May 31, 2019, the town of Fort Fairfield's real estate and personal property tax collections totaled $3,248,489.48.  Tax collections are $82,510 less than for the same period last year.

Excise tax collections as of May 31, 2019 are $592,439.75

   “We have collected 105.79 percent of our budgeted amount, which is 14.12 percent greater than the anticipated amount for May 31, 2019,” said Fort Fairfield Town Manager, Andrea Powers.  “State revenue sharing as of May 31, 2019 is $191,284.42; this shows a slight decrease compared to our budget.”

   Town expenses as of May 31, 2019 totaled $4,627,704.68.  “Expenses are at 90.5%, slightly lower than our budgeted percent of 91.67.  Maine 2019 revenues are 1.91 percent above budget,” said Powers.  The town's checking account balance as of May 31, 2019 was $406,007.60.  The town's Certificate of Deposit Registry Service (CDRS) shows a balance of $1,474,763 and the town's Insured Cash Sweep, a balance of $162,878.  The town's account at Machais Savings has a balance of $5,000.

   Powers said the town had received revenue sharing from the State of Maine on May 17, 2019 in the amount of $32,436.61.  “Our year to date total is $223,721.43.  That's 1.1 percent lower than our budgeted total.  Year to date we are $2,714.47 less than our budget.”